Signal device



Patented Mar 22,1921.

EYE-5 W. ROUSH.

SIGNAL DEVlCE- APPLICATION man ocr. 22, 192p.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

WALTER HOUSE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

1 o all LUJMJWZ it may concern Be linown that I, l/VAL'rnR Ro'osi-r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, Lucas county, Ohio, have made an invention Appertaining to Signal Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others slrilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to signal devices, and particularly to those of a movable or animated nature adapted for use on automobiles or the like to attract the attention of the drivers of vehicles in the rear, or of others, to indicate that the vehicle on which the signal is displayed is going to slow up or turn.

The object of my invention is the provision of a simple and improved signal de vice of the character described, which simulates a hand and is operable to open when in use as signal and to close when not in use.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while, in its broader aspect, it is capableof embodiments in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figures 1 and 2 are edge and front elevations of a device embodying the invention with the hand in closed position. Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof with the hand in open position, and Figs. t, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are face views of the different members of the hand, with that of Fig. 6 partly broken away.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a.

holder in the nature of a hollow guide memher, which in cross-section is broader in one dimension than the other, and which has one end open. A set of five elongated members form the signal hand 2 of the device, which members are of thin sheet metal or other suitable material of a stiff nature and are placed fiatwise one on another and have Specification of Letters Patent. l Patented hil'ar. 22, 1921.

Application filed October 29, 1920.

Serial No. 420,382.

fourth lingers d, 5, (l and 7 of the hand. These members have a body' or palm portion 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, respectively, which are of the same width and of a size adapted when in registering relation one over the other to lit and slide into the open guide end of the holder 1. The finger members have wrist portions 13, 1d, l5, l6 and 17, which are pivotally connected at 18 to permit relative. lateral. pivotal movements of the members so thatthe fingers and thumb may be collapsed in the" closed position shown in Fig. 2 or laterally spread in the open signal. position shown in Fig.

The second finger member has its wrist portion provided with an extension or forearm part 19, which is broader than the wrist portion and fits in the holder 1 to permit the member to have longitudinal sliding movements therein but prevents lateral rocking movements thereof so that the other finger members are in reality pivoted to the member 5 for opening and closing movements relative thereto. The wrist portion of the member is narrowed orhas its sides in-cut with respect to the palm and forearm portions 10 and 19 thereof to form stops 20 at the ends of the wrist portion for coaction withthe stops 21 at the outer open end of the holder 1 at opposite edges thereof to limit the reciprocatory movements of the hand within the holder, such stops, in the present instance, being in the form of rollers.

The thumb member 3 has the sides of its wrist portion forming cam surfaces 22 and 23 which coact with the respective rollers 21 to swing the thumb member 3 laterally to the open position shown in Fig. 3, when the hand is moved outwardly relative to the holder, and to swing the thmnb member to its closed position with its palm portion in register with the palm portions of the other members, as shown in Fig. 2, when the hand is moved to the limit of its inward position with respect to the holder. Thefirst finger l is likewise formedat its wrist portion with suitable cam edges 1% and 25, which cause the finger dto have a slight lateral movementtoward the open position of the thumb when the hand is moved outward relative to the holder, and vice versa, as is apparent. The middle finger member 5, as previously stated, is intended to only have longitudinal reciprocatory movements and the side edges of its wrist portion are therefore made 'straightand not in cam form. The third V and the cam edges 26 and 27 of its wrist portion are therefore formed with cam curves of reverse form to those of the member a so that they may coact with the rollers 21 to effect a lateral movement of the member 6 to the right when the hand is moved outward relative to the holder 6, and vice versa. Theiourth or little finger member 7, has its wrist portion formed with the opposite cam edges 28 and :29, formed as shown, to adapt them to coact with the rollers 21 and cause a lateral movement of the finger member '7 to the right to full open position when the hand is moved outward and to return it to its collapsed or closed'position when the hand is moved inward relative'to the holder, as indicated by Figs. 3 and .2 respectively. WV hen the'hand is in its closed position with respect to the holder 1 the inner or wrist ends of the palm portions or the different members coact with the rollers 21 to prevent relative lateral pivotal movements of the members.

The reciprocatory movements of the hand are controlled by longitudinal movements of a rod 30, which is connected at one end to the inner end of the finger member 5 and projects therefrom through a guide opening 31 in the inner end of he holder 1. This rod may connect with any suitable operating means arranged in any suitable position.

It is evident that I have provided a simple and elficient signal device simulating a hand, which may be operated to throw the hand quickly to open or signaling position or to retract or move the same to closed inoperative position and that the relative opening and closing movements of the hand *members are controlled by cam action.

I wish it understood that my invention isnot limited to any specific construction. arrangement or form oi the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and changes, without departing from the spirit of the claims.

ment, said members being mounted at their inner ends for reciprocatory movement in the holder, one member being guided for true longitudinal reciprocatory movements by the holder and the other members having differently shaped cam portions coacting with the holder to impart predetermined relative opening movement to the. members when moved outward and relative inward or closing movement to the members when moved inward relative to the holder.

A signal device oi the class described, comprising a holder forming a guide socket with internal projections at opposite sides thereof, a plurality oi? members simulating the thumb and linger members ol :1 hand and connected together for relative lateral pivotal movement about a common pivot. said members being mounted at their inner ends for a reciprocator movement in the holder; one member being guided tor substantially true longitudinal movement by the holder and the other mcmlmrs having the side edges of their inner end portions notched to receive the respective projections oi the guide and to coilperate therewith to impart predeterininci'l relative opening movement to the outer end portions of the members when moved outward, and vice versa.

3.111 a signal device of the class described, a hollow holder having an open end. a plurality of members simulating the thumb and finger members of a hand and each having a thumb or finger portion, a palm portion, and a wrist portion. the members being pivoted together at their wrist portions for relative lateral opening and closing movement to place the palm por tions into and out of register, the members being carried at their inner ends by the holder for longitudinal movement 0i their wrist portions in the holder, one member being longer than the others and guided by the holder for true reciprocatorv movement. and the other members having their wrist portions provided with cam edges which coact with the holder to impart positive pivotal opening movement of the members when moved outward and positive closing movement to the members when moved inward relative to the holder, and means eonnected to the inner end of the longer memher and operable to reciprocally move the same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

lVALTER R OUSH. 

